School Murals: Inspiring Creativity, Connection, and Community

Welcome to Raw Initiative's School Murals page—your one-stop solution for creating vibrant, meaningful murals that transform school spaces and engage your students.

We understand how busy teachers and school staff are, so we make the process as simple and stress-free as possible, from planning to the final brushstroke.

Our school murals are facilitated by our lead artist Bohie Blackwood (she’s the one grinning in all the portfolio shots). With a strong passion for raising youth voices, and over 10 years painting in the public space, Bohie knows this process from front to back. She tailors each project to meet individual school needs including student ability requirements, while bringing other artists, thought leaders, local hero’s and theme specialists on board as the project demands.

Why Choose a School Mural?

Our Streamlined Process

Tailored Themes

Benefits of Working with
Raw Initiative

Testimonials

Get Started Today

Murals are more than just artwork—they are opportunities to:

  • Foster Creativity: Encourage students to contribute their ideas and artistic flair.

  • Promote Inclusion: Highlight themes of diversity, respect, and mental wellbeing.

  • Celebrate Your School Identity: Showcase your values, history, or achievements.

  • Create Inspiring Spaces: Transform dull walls into vibrant environments for learning and connection.

We know your time is valuable, so we handle every step of the mural process:

  1. Initial Consultation: We meet with your team to understand your goals, themes, and vision.

  2. Co-Design Workshops: Students and staff can collaborate on the mural concept through hands-on workshops or brainstorming sessions.

  3. Design Approval: We provide professional designs based on your input for final approval.

  4. Mural Creation: Our experienced artists bring the vision to life, ensuring a stunning and lasting result.

Optional: If you’re short on time, we can create the design independently based on your brief.

We specialise in creating murals that resonate with students, staff, and the school community. Popular themes include:

  • Environmental Awareness: Promote sustainability and eco-friendly practices.

  • Mental Wellbeing: Highlight messages of resilience, inclusivity, and support.

  • School Spirit: Celebrate your school’s motto, history, or achievements.

  • Cultural Diversity: Showcase the rich cultural backgrounds of your school community.

Have something else in mind? Let’s bring your unique vision to life!

  • Student Engagement: Our workshops empower students to take part in the creative process, fostering pride and ownership.

  • Experienced Artists: With over 10 years of mural experience, we deliver high-quality, professional artwork tailored to your needs.

  • Hassle-Free Service: From concept to completion, we take care of everything so you can focus on your school priorities.

  • Eco-Friendly Materials: We prioritise sustainable paints and practices, ensuring a safe and environmentally friendly project.

"It has always been a pleasure working with Bohie to develop and create programs for young people. Her constant positivity, passion and creative expression has no doubt made an immeasurable impact on youth within the community. Her youth-focused approach has always left young people feeling heard, empowered and a key part of every project. If only there were more Bohie’s out there!” - Zac Noble, Youth Worker.

“I believe this mural workshop gave the participants a great sense of accomplishment and belonging. Bohie’s approachability and talent is something for everyone to admire and strive to achieve. We loved every minute of it.” - Samantha Pawsey, Youth Support Worker.

“I just wanted to say a huge thank you for running the workshop. It has meant so much to me and was incredibly inspiring. Working and creating art with you has really given me a new perspective... and has opened me up to so many new ideas and experiences.” - Youth Workshop Participant

“Bohie is organised, resourceful and genuinely committed to creating positive experiences and opening up new possibilities for the people she works with.”- Michelle Grimston, Programs Officer, Belco Arts

“One of the nicest things about this process has been how easy Bohie’s been to work with. Often times schools are really chaotic places - things change last minute and we forget to give information, or we can’t access the space or whatever it is we’re doing is a little bit more disorganised than lots of other environments. I think Bohie’s just been excellent about rolling with what we can and can’t achieve, and when we can and can’t do it - along with beautiful interactions with the kids, and I think that’s always nice too. [The mural] hasn’t been something that we’ve had to separate the children from, they’ve been able to wander through and talk to Bohie, and talk to a “real artist” about process and the thinking behind the design. It’s been great. She’s super responsive and really flexible. Keeping true to her own artistic designs, Bohie’s been incredible flexible about being able to make changes happen.” - Melanie Coffill, Deputy Principal, Wanniassa School Junior Campus and Pre School 

Ready to transform your school with a beautiful mural? Whether you’re looking for a fully custom design or a collaborative project involving your students, we’re here to help.

  • Book a Free Consultation: Schedule a video call, or email us through our contact form.

  • Explore Our Work: View examples of our past school murals in the Portfolio below.

  • Read Over Our Planning Guide: "How to Plan a School Mural Without Adding to Your To-Do List".

Let’s create something amazing together!

a snapshot into our extensive
school project portfolio

  • School students feeling empowered from a collaborative mural painting workshop with Raw Initiative

    Participating students getting their flex on, infront of their new creation for their high school Flexible Learning Centre

  • school workshop participants posing with public space mural focus, olympic athlete, caroline buchanan for International Women's Day 2021

    school workshop participants posing with public space mural focus, olympic athlete, caroline buchanan for International Women's Day 2021

  • Teachers and youth workers contribute to interactive public space activation artwork

    Teachers and youth workers contribute to interactive public space activation artwork

  • raising young women+ voices in a public space artwork commissioned by UNwomen

    raising young women+ voices in a public space artwork commissioned by UNwomen

  • Athletes celebrating their cross-generation community engagement mural at local sporting field, collaboration with bohie blackwood and faith kerehona

    Athletes celebrating their cross-generation community engagement mural at local sporting field, collaboration with bohie blackwood and faith kerehona

  • College students discussing identity and gender stereotypes in a mural planning workshop

    College students discussing identity and gender stereotypes in a mural planning workshop

  • students, community members, council workers and teachers coming together for this skatepark youth drop in hub mural project

    Students, community members, council workers and teachers coming together for this skatepark youth drop in hub mural project

  • young people desiging their own skateboard decks at a school holiday program for the australian national museum

    young people desiging their own skateboard decks at a school holiday program for the australian national museum

  • workshop participants interviewed by the media to celebrate International WomenS Day, 2021

    workshop participants interviewed by the media to celebrate International WomenS Day, 2021

  • students, teachers and youth workers posing together after an interactive mural project activating public space for international womens day

  • High school students posing infront of their co-designed and created artwork at local youth centre and drop in hub

    High school students posing infront of their co-designed and created artwork at local youth centre and drop in hub

  • students participating in "Youth week" themed school mural

    students participating in "Youth week" themed school mural

  • workshop participants designing their own band tshirts for "girls Rock!" holiday camp

    workshop participants designing their own band tshirts for "girls Rock!" holiday camp

  • University students enjoying their new corridor mural, one of several painted on site at the University of Canberra

    University students enjoying their new corridor mural, one of several painted on site at the University of Canberra

  • "You're somebody's someone". A telling slogan for a community-engagement mural at local sportsfield raising awareness for youth suicide in collaboration with sion gryffud from kraken kreative

    "You're somebody's someone". A telling slogan for a community-engagement mural at local sportsfield raising awareness for youth suicide in collaboration with sion gryffud from kraken kreative

  • primary school student self portraits created in their art class through a five part video series mentoring students to express their identities through street art

    primary school student self portraits created in their art class through a five part video series mentoring students to express their identities through street art

  • young people expressing their voices on sustainability and mental wellbeing through a temporary street art installation using only recycled materials

    young people expressing their voices on sustainability and mental wellbeing through a temporary street art installation using only recycled materials

  • Primary school students, teachers and parents adding their fingerprints to the background of this school mural during a school fete

    Primary school students, teachers and parents adding their fingerprints to the background of this school mural during a school fete

Engaging youth to respond to themes of mental wellbeing beyond gender stereotypes with Australian Olympian for International Women’s Day

Co-created Youth Street Art project workshopping with 8 students from Erindale College workshopping the theme “Choose to Challenge” with keynote talk from female Olympian Caroline Buchanan on how to overcome negative thinking and gender stereotypes. The workshop included a module on “Expressive Type”, and how to use art to empower ourselves.

We then painted this unique mural design responding to her inspiring journey in the public space over two days, with support from YWCA and Mura Lanyon Youth Drop in and Community Centre. Painted in Garema Place, downtown Canberra, in partnership with The Canberra Centre. This project was funded by the ACT Government.

Raising young female voices through the frame of sustainability

Using only recycled materials, this street art workshop focused on 6 x 16-23 year old females from various schools across Canberra, workshopping the theme “Raise young female voices within the frame of sustainability”. The young people responded to the question “What change would you like to see in the world, and what’s stopping it?”. Created in partnership with Northside Community Services, funded by TCCS ACT Government.